Diverge

In 2026’s third episode of the Diverge Podcast, we look back at victories on their season debuts by Matt Beers and Candice Lill at the Banhoek leg of the Ford Trailseeker Series. Lill dominated the women’s race, capitalising on herCape Epic partner, Alessandra Keller, suffering a puncture to go solo and win by over 3 minutes. Beers was more patient, biding his time until the final kilometre before attacking the final member of the race-defining five-man breakaway.Marc Pritzen was second behind Beers, extending his wait for his first win of the year, but in this form, that cannot be far off. Elsewhere, Dryland Event Management announced a R700 000 prize purse for the inaugural Garden Route Giro, FNB Wines2Whales opened entries to the 2026 Chardonnay, Pinotage, and Shiraz events, and the UCI line-ups for the Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, were announced.  
To read the news articles about those events, and more, visit www.diverge.info. Or click through here:
Beers and Lill Win the Opening Round of the Ford Trailseeker Series at Banhoek
R700 000 On the Line at the Inaugural Garden Route Giro
The Pros and Pros of the Original and Switchback Routes at FNB Wines2Whales
Southern Africans to Shine at the 2026 Tankwa Trek
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In episode 2 of 2026, we look back at a mild and fast edition of the Attakwas Extreme, speculate on how the change to time parity with the men’s race will affect the women’s category at the Cape Epic, and discuss the announcement of the Burn Camps for the second edition of the Gravel Burn. To read the new articles about those events, and more, visit www.diverge.info. To click through here:
Hatherly and Preen Open their 2026 Seasons with Hell of the South Victories
Time Parity: Unlocking a Faster and More Competitive Cape Epic Women’s Race
A Route to Inspire Fierce Women’s Racing at the 2026 Cape Epic
Start Town, Burn Camps, and Route Format for 2026 Gravel Burn Confirmed
 And remember to follow Diverge on social media… @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In the first episode of the new year, we look ahead at what’s to come on the bike in 2026. From the Attakwas Extreme, which kicks off the South African racing season through the Tankwa Trek, Cape Epic, Garden Route Giro, and on into the World Series calendar, which gets underway in South Korea in May. Then it’s home again for the off-road SA Champs, be it XCM, Gravel, or XCO, before stage racing gets back underway and the Trailseeker battle for R100 000, or maybe even 1 Million Rand, hots up. Tune in to hear when our favourite eventsare happening and where.  
To view Diverge’s South African Cycling Calendar and the 2026 UCI MTB World Series Calendar, visit www.diverge.info. And remember to follow Diverge on social media… diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In a special episode from Ride Joburg, the Diverge Podcast recaps on a thrilling and at times chaotic 28th edition of the world’s second-largest timed bicycle race. While thousands of fun riders enjoyed a beautiful day out on the roads of Johannesburg, the elite men and women raced for R200 000 winners' cheques. Kim le Court returned from European racing to dominate the women’s battle, beating her nearest rival, Lucy Young, by 79 seconds. Magda Nieuwoudt was third, after animating the women’s racing in the second half of the 97km long course. Jaedon Terlouw won the men’s race after coming to the line with two former winners, Ryan Gibbons and Marc Pritzen. The PYGA Euro Steel man dove down the inside in a self-described “dodgy” move to seize the advantage going into the final straight, and with all the momentum, could sit up and enjoy the moment as he secured the biggest win of his young career.
To read full stories of how the men’s and women’s races were won, plus more from the world of South African endurance sport, visit Diverge.info:
Terlouw Puts MTB Skills to Use to Win 2025 Ride Joburg
Le Court Underlines Stellar 2025 Season with the Ride Joburg Title
 
Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

In a busy week for endurance sport, the Diverge Podcast dives into the build-up to the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn and reflects on the cancellation of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. In happier, positive news, the first edition of what has been marketed as the world’s premier gravel stage race gets underway on Sunday, 26 October. The elite line-ups have been announced, and the route will certainly challenge both the elite and amateur riders alike. Sadly, the Cape Town Marathon had to be called off in the early hours of Sunday morning, when gale-force winds destroyed the Greenpoint race village, making the start/finish precinct unsafe. Sanlam has stepped in to guarantee the entries of the 2025 entrants for the 2026 or 2027 race, but the status of the event’s application for Abbott World Marathon Major status remains uncertain. 
To read about the full men’s and women’s elite line-ups for the Nedbank Gravel Burn and all the Cape Town Marathon communiques, visit Diverge.info:
Meet the Men Contesting the Inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn
Women to Watch at the 2025 Nedbank Gravel Burn
Record Runs and Emotional Scenes at Cape Town Trail Marathon Races
Impressive Repeat Wins for Hendricks and Kavanagh in 10km Peace Run
2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Cancelled Due to Adverse Wind Conditions
Cancellation Timeline of the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Sanlam to Sponsor 2026 or 2027 Entries for Cancelled 2025 Marathon Entrants

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